{"id":166089,"date":"2026-03-18T10:03:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=166089"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:03:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:03:12","slug":"cowboys-linked-to-major-trade-as-broncos-overpay-for-star-receiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=166089","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys Linked to Major Trade as Broncos Overpay for Star Receiver"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"article-summary\">Cowboys eye strategic move as Broncos-Waddle trade reshapes market dynamics, sparking fresh debate over George Pickens&#8217; potential value.<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-pubdate\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main\">\n<div class=\"article\">\n<div class=\"main-article\">\n<div class=\"featured-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/files.fanbeat.win\/art\/0rbzRPfzmbfZ.avif\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"art_0rbzRPfzmbfZ\" class=\"content\" data-title=\"Cowboys Linked to Major Trade as Broncos Overpay for Star Receiver\" data-id=\"0rbzRPfzmbfZ\" data-url=\"\/dallas-cowboys\/cowboys-linked-to-major-trade-as-broncos-overpay-for-star-receiver--0rbzR\">\n<p>The Dallas Cowboys are at a crossroads when it comes to George Pickens. Trading him might seem like a step back, but with the right offer, it could be a strategic move. The recent blockbuster trade involving Jaylen Waddle gives us a glimpse into what&#8217;s possible.<\/p>\n<p>The Denver Broncos just made waves by acquiring Miami Dolphins&#8217; wideout Jaylen Waddle. In exchange, they gave up a hefty package: a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick, while receiving Waddle and a fourth-rounder from Miami. This trade sets a high bar for wide receiver value, and it\u2019s worth considering what Dallas could fetch for Pickens.<\/p>\n<p>Waddle, a former No. 6 overall pick, has been a solid contributor with an average of 81 catches for 1,098 yards and six touchdowns over six seasons. But even with those numbers, few expected him to command such a high price. His production has dipped recently, averaging 890 receiving yards over the past three years, and despite Tyreek Hill&#8217;s absence last season, Waddle didn&#8217;t break the 1,000-yard mark.<\/p>\n<p>Enter George Pickens, who has been nothing short of spectacular. With CeeDee Lamb sidelined due to injury, Pickens stepped up, ranking among the league&#8217;s best with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and a passer rating of 120.1 when targeted. His explosiveness and ability as a downfield threat make him a standout.<\/p>\n<p>Comparing Pickens to Waddle isn\u2019t straightforward. While Waddle resembles more of a CeeDee Lamb-type receiver, Pickens brings a unique skill set.<\/p>\n<p>The real question is, how many receivers are truly better than Pickens right now? That list is short.<\/p>\n<p>Pickens&#8217; value has undoubtedly increased since last offseason when he was available for a third-rounder. The catch? He&#8217;s not under contract, and any team looking to acquire him would need to offer a hefty salary, possibly over $30 million annually, along with draft picks.<\/p>\n<p>The Waddle trade gives the Cowboys significant leverage. They can argue that a younger, less productive player like Waddle was worth a first, third, and a pick swap. While Pickens does carry some maturity concerns, his trajectory is on the rise at just 25 years old, unlike Waddle, who might have peaked at 28.<\/p>\n<p>This is a pivotal moment for the Cowboys&#8217; front office. The decision to trade Pickens could reshape the team\u2019s future, and it\u2019s a conversation that should be happening behind closed doors right now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cowboys eye strategic move as Broncos-Waddle trade reshapes market dynamics, sparking fresh debate over George Pickens&#8217; potential value. The Dallas Cowboys are at a crossroads when it&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":166090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-166089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cowboys Linked to Major Trade as Broncos Overpay for Star Receiver - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=166089\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cowboys Linked to Major Trade as Broncos Overpay for Star Receiver - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cowboys eye strategic move as Broncos-Waddle trade reshapes market dynamics, sparking fresh debate over George Pickens&#8217; potential value. 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